From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt
Oil-producing communities in Rivers State have blamed illegal refineries and artisanal mining for the heavy soot deposits that affect several parts of the state.
Soot is a deep black powdery or flaky substance consisting largely of amorphous carbon, produced by the incomplete burning of organic matter.
The toxic particles can cause breathing issues, including asthma, bronchitis, coronary heart disease, and even cancer, with infants, the elderly, and those who already have breathing problems the most affected.
At a one-day stakeholders’ consultative forum on modular refining in Port Harcourt, the state capital, the leaders also alleged that some top military officers engage in illicit refining that contributes to the soot.
Traditional rulers, government officials, unnamed departments and agencies were also accused of engaging in or backing illegal refining of stolen crude, thereby contributing to the soot.
The leaders said the illegal refining also had the involvement powerful individuals, such as politicians, who deploy jobless youths for the act.
Read Also: Operators of illegal refineries polluting Bayelsa popular creek – ERA
At the meeting were government officials and Community Development Committee chairmen.
A community leader said: “I want to tell this forum something I know very well about this Kpofire (colloquial for illegally refined petroleum products).
“The people you say you want to consult, including the high-powered military officers, are all involved. They send their boys here to do it for them.
“The Kpofire network is very wide, this happens right at my backyard. I am from Okrika Local Government Area.
“Illegal mining activities produce a lot of soot that gets to Port Harcourt because of its proximity. My family members are involved. This has to be stopped.”
Rivers Deputy Governor Dame Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, who chaired the event, said artisanal refining and crude oil theft pose serious environmental and health threats.
She the Nyesom Wike led administration intended to set up modular refineries to engage the youths involved in artisanal refining.
The Deputy Governor said: “The major cause of soot is artisanal refining of crude oil (Kpofire). The military would always burn it with along with the tanker whenever they apprehend the trucks conveying them.
“The thick smoke it produces goes to settle in the atmosphere, which later descends as soot that causes problems to humans.
“The Federal Government promised to build modular refineries to empower the youths involved in artisanal business for the safety of lives and the environment.
“We want to see how we can take advantage of the technology to empower our youths and grow our state by transforming the business of artisanal refining into modern refining that is safer and friendly to the environment.
“We want to see how we can work with the youths involved in this, make the business more entrepreneurial so that investors can be attracted.
“At the end of the day, the youths will form cooperative societies for the building and operation of the modular refineries.”
Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Igbiks Tamuno, who convened the meeting, said artisanal refining occurred in 14 of 23 Local Government Areas.
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